
u 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

llillillillllllilllill 

016 211 440 2 



HoUinger Corp. 
pH 8.5 



'^S 1067 
B15 

Copy I 



POEM, 



READ AT THE 



Soldiers' Welcome, 

Franklin, Delaware Co., N.Y., 
August 5th, 1865. 



/ 



By G. H. BARNES 



Printed by F. N. Chase, Binghamton, N. Y. 






POEM 



rpHE heroes of a hundred fields 
X Are gathered here to-day ; 
And banners wave, and cheers applaud 
The patriot array. 

Proud parents boast their noble sons ; 

Fond wives their husbands, dear ; 
And loyal maidens smile sweet praise 

On every volunteer. 

Loud cornet-blare and tlu'obbing drums — 

Soft Zephyr's bland caress — 
Bright eyes, swift pulses, pealing songs. 

Bespeak our happiness. 

The birds are gayer — brighter flow 

The brooklet's wave and foam — 
And th' way-side cattle seem to low 

The Soldiers' "welcome home!" 

O , cheerfully, the patriot leaves 

Home, comfort, all, to share 
The toils and dangers of the field, j 

If duty calls him there. 



And well he bears War's stern fatigues — 

Counting privations light — 
May he but gain his Country's thanks, I ! 

Through triumph for the right, ; | 

I 



But when the tidings of release 

From fuithful service coniej 
The warrior winys iiis eager feet 

To taste the joys of home. 

With sparkhng eye he hails each hill 

And well-remember'd peak — 
How cool the Northern breezes fall 

Upon his bronzed cheek I 

Forgotten, are his years of toil — 

Wounds, prison, hunger, pain — 
No room in Joy's full harmony 

For Sorrow's sad refrain. 

Home, home again I the sweet tho't wakes 

Glad music in his sonl — 
And consciousness of dutij done 

Pours wine in Pleasure's bowl. 

Surrounded by the loving ones 

That come at Friendship's call, 
The soldier sings his wild war-songs, 

While evening shadows fall. 

Young children, nestled on his knee — 

Fair maiden at his side — 
Or wife, or mother, sire or friend, 

With patriotic pride 

List to the warrior's thrilling tale*- 

Of camp, and march, and light ; 
Until the young hours of the morn 

Are nearer than the night. 

Welcome, brave hearts ! we gladly press 

The victor's glowing palm ! 
Come, brothers, crowned with honor, peace. i 

And Freedom's blessed calm I 



I 
3 



Three years ag^) tlie trnni^^et-call 

Of Liberty out-i'ang 1 
.Vnd from the hills of Delaware. 
A thousand patriots sprang 

To check the tide of Treason's Hood, 

That rolled its angry waves, 
Cap'd with Rebellion's bloody foani, 

Up, from the land of slaves 1 

Our peaceful skies were dark'ning fast- 
Hope trembled Avith alarms ! 

And freemen felt the hour must have 
The strength of their strong arms. 

The loyal farmer left his fields, 

Just shorn of golden grain — 
The blacksmith flung aside his sledge — 

The carpenter, his plane : 

The merchant closed the ledger's lids. 
With clenched and nervous hands — 

And clerk, and squire, step'd proudly forth 
In Uncle Sam's brogans. 

The pale-eyed student doff'd his gown, 

And don'd the blouse of blue ; 
Eager to grapple with the wrong 

And prove his courage true ! 

And th' preacher, from his wonted place, 

Pray'd God protect his flock ; 
And clasp them tenderly the while 

He clasp'd the musket-stock ! 

Stout, brawny limbs and thick-set beards; 

Betok'ning manhood's prime — 
The slender, stripling forms of youth ; 

That show'd no touch of time — 



Came pouring down, thro' g-org-e and glen - 
From vale and rock-bar'd steep — 

And from the deep, green hemlock woode^. 
Where trighten'd cascades leap. 

All, with one mission — grandly high I 

One purpose to perform ; 
As pure as ever prompted prayer : 

Or nerved a patriot's arm — 

All rallied 'round the dear old flag. 

For which their fathers bled !* 
And vow'd to follow and defend 

Tho' marching to the dead ! 

We trusted you — you'd faith in us — 
As one, our fates were sealed — 

O, how we watched your steady tramp, 
Forth to the battle-field ! 

What time war's wild tornado howl'd 

Its fury through the years, 
We asked, "God shield from every harm 

Our noble volunteers." 

''But should the cruel battle- blast 

E'er lay our darlings low. 
Aye let them fall, as they have lived — 

Their faces to the foe ! 

And when, anon, the lightning flash 'd 

Glad tidings for the free. 
We made tliese rugged hill -sides ring 

With cheers for victory ! 

The hopes and fears of those wild years 

Are not forgotten yet — 
Still, with their ling'ring memories. 

Our eyes are sometimes wet. 



And, Soldiers, when your letters tol<] 
(No word of murni'ring meant) 

Of all your sutt ''rings for the cause, 
In hospital and tent ,- 

How trill'd the chords of woman'sjieart 

How fast her needles flew ! 
What sweet remittances of love, 

And faith, and courage, too! 

I need not tell— the warrior's breast. 

Like a rich treasure-store, 
Is full of fond remembrances ; 

Worth more than golden ore. 

Yes, woman's countless, kindly deeds, 

Borne to our braves, afar — 
Have cancel'd half the wrong and woe 

And misery of war. 

Ay, in the granaries of God, 

Is garner'd Virtue's grain. 
That ne'er had grown on Freedom's soil 

Without her battle-rain ! 

And when, alas ! some fiillen lad — 

To roll of muffled drum, 
Timed to the pattering dirge of tears — 

Came to his Northern home ; 

Wrap'd in the banner he had borne 
Against the cannon's breath — 

Came, from his comrades far a-field. 
On the long parole of death ; 

We laid him where his fathers sleep ; 

'Neath Freedom's spreading trees — 
And left him with the birds, and flowers, 

And grateful memories. 



Still booni'd the guns ! and louder rang 
' Bold Freedom's trumpet calls I 

j And other thousands swept along 

1 1 To man her breaching walLs. 

'I 

Still play'd the shifting game of war : 
And, driv'n from cliff to crag, 
\ i The 'wilder'd eagles dared not fold 

} I Their wings on either flag ; 

I i 

I ! Until God taught the Nation this ; 

I Through strife, defeats and pains — 

' *'Your day of triumph ne'er shall dawn 

I On th' slave's unbroken chains I" 

II 

! j O then that firm, but generous hand — 

I True, honest, sure, though slow — 

Gain'd Heaven's smile ; and dealt the wrong 
Its heaviest, deadliest, blow. 

! And they that wore the galling yoke, 

In this and other lands, 
Beheld the morning star of Hope ; 
j And stretched their joyful hands ! 

And from the dust, the toil-bow'd slave. 
His eye on Freedom's form — 

Stood up ! and bared his ebon breast 
To treason's fiercest storm. 

Thus side by side — On ! marching on — 

The Union patriots trod : 
Down-bearing every hand that fought 

Humanity and God ! 

Then arch'd the bow, with promise bright I 

Our eagles, from the sun, 
Perch'd proudly on the starry flag ; 

And victory was won ! 



O, if the mighty dead are given 

Their angel-brows to grace 
With glorious actions here perlbrnfd, 

To free and bless the race ; 

Then does the crown of Lincoln shine 

Resplendent as the sun ! 
And heaven is songful for the deed 

Our martyr 'd Chief has done 1 

Soldiers, no higher honors crave — 

None nobler wait for ye, — 
Than wreath your names with his who wro't 

This work of Liberty. 

Soldiers, your work is done ! and well ; 

It bears the seal ''Complete !" 
For they who trampled on the flag 

Are pleading at your feet. 

But, should the clouds of war again 

O'ercast our land with gloom. 
Go, consecrate your swords anew 

At xVbra'am Lincoln's tomb I 



Nor history's page, nor poet's pen 
Can e'er recount the deeds 

Wrought by the gallant Union host 
To serve their Country's needs. 

But every brave of every race; 

Or color, clime or name ; 
Has earn'd the royal right to hold 

Ilis title-deed of fame. 

Whether before the cannon's mouth- 
By bayonet or shell — 

Or, by the stealthy picket's fire, 
The faithful soldier fell : 



Or, on the dusty, weary^inarch — 
By Southern prison-damps — 

Amidst the fever-breeding chills 
Of cheerless winter camps : 

Or, whether, down th' Atlantic main, 
Where blist'ring sunbeams" dart 

Fierce, poison'd arrows of disease, 
That fasten in the heart — 

The noisome, pestilential plague 
Out-stretch'd his yellow hand ; 

And grasp'd a patriot's life, and hid 
A soldier in the sand : 

It matters not : no tithe of worth 

Shall ever fade or fall — 
A People's heart-felt gratitude 

O'erflows with thanks to all. 

Soldiers, your bat tie- work is done I 

The strife is over now — 
From plowing red Rebellion's ranks, 

Come, follow Freedom's plow ! 

As you have nail'd the old flag fast, 
Redeeming thus your pledge — 

Come kindle up the smould'ring forge ; 
And swing the rusty sledge ! 

As you have smooth'd the track for Trutli 
Now shove the smoothing plane ! 

And, student, from the'^scroll of blood, 
Turn to your books again. 

Thus, we will plow, and hew, and forge : 

As in the days gone by : — 
Free, happy, joyous, thanking God 

For Peace and Liberty I 



■■n 

016 211 M0 2 » 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

016 211 440 2 • 



Hollinger Corp. 
pH 8.5 



